Sewing-machine needle.



No. 662,307. Patented Nov. 20, I900. s. s. ROSZELL.

SEWING 'MAGHINE NEEDLE.

(No Model.)

NIT

ATE r rrrcn.

SEWING-MACHINE NEEDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 662,307, dated November 20, 1900.

Application fil d December 29, 1899. Serial No. 741,981. (No model.)

self-threading sewing-machine needles, and

pertains to a needle constructed of two wires twisted together, all of which will be fully described hereinafter, and particularly referred to in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of my needle in its completed form.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section on the line 2 2 of Fig.

1. Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a View illustrating the twisted wires in the rough before they are reduced and brought to the shape shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a view of my needle, showing it composed of twisted Wires and a modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that my needle consists of a wire which is preferably doubled at one end, as shown at t, and compressed tightly together for a short distance to constitute a stem B for insertion in the clamp of a sewing-machine. The wires are then twisted from the lower end of this clamp portion B downward to the eye b in what may be termed a loose twist, though the wires are in engagement with each other under a spring tension. From the eye I) to the point at the wires are given a tight twist, as shown at 't', Fig. 4, and this tightly-twisted portion 11 forms the point f, Fig. 1, of the preferred form of the finished needle.

One strand of the wire is cut at the point r, and the upwardly-projecting portion Ct of the cut strand is slightly straightened, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, whereby the cut ends a and 3 lap or extend by each other and are in engagement with the other strand of the wire andtend to embrace it. The upwardlyextending cut end a constitutes the entrance for the thread in the self-threading operation.

In the threading of the needle the thread is laid across it just above the upper end of the upwardly-extending end a and drawn downward,when the thread will travel around the spiral formed by the twisted wires until I it enters the eye I). The tightly-twisted por tion '6, which constitutes the point of the needle, will prevent the downward movement of the thread. This arrangement by actual practice is found to provide an easily self-threading needle and one in which there are no parts to catch in the goods and which is cheap to produce.

The eye I) is formed between the twisted portions of the Wire, as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, and this eye may be formed while the needle is being twisted to the rough state shown in Fig; 4, or it can be formed by forcing a suitable implement through the twisted portions after it has been formed into the rough needle shown in Fig. 4 or during any other period of the operation of making the same.

The thread-groove D is formed in the finished needle in the usual manner; but it will be noted that the groove extends diagonally across the twisted wires and constitutes a longitudinally-extending groove con nected at its lower end with the eye 1) and extending upward the proper distance.

In the manufacture of a needle like my preferred form, as illustrated in Fig. l, a wire is doubled between its ends and consists of wires which together constitute a larger portion below the clamp 13 than is desired when the needle is finished, as shown in Fig. 4, and

the twist from the clamped portion B to the eye I) is loose, as compared with the tight twist 2', out of which the point is finally constructed. The wires, however, throughout their entire length lie closely together and under springtension. The wire is composed of soft steel, whereby it is readily twisted into the desired form. In constructing the needle like that shown in Fig. 1 after the wires have been twisted together they are then rolled under heavy pressure from just below the clamp portion B to the point, the rolling process serving to produce an even outer surface,which would appear in cross-sectiomas illustrated in Fig. 2.

While I prefer to form the needle as just described, whereby a finished needle with a perfectly or practically-perfect outer surface for passage through the goods like that shown in Fig. 1 is provided, yet this is not absolutely necessary, and a needle may be formed having the outer contour like that shown in Fig. 5. In this instance the wires will be smaller, so that when they have been twisted together they will in their rough state he of the desired diameter, and the point will be the only portion which will be ground off and reduced. I find from actual practice that a needle formed like that in Fig. 5 has no tendency whatever to catch in the goods, but passes readily and smoothly therethrough.

After the needle has been completed in either of the forms here shown it is then tempered by any of the well-known processes.

By forming a needle of a plurality (preferably of two) twisted wires I form a needle which has all of the strength necessary for sewing, owing to the fact that one wire tends to brace and support the other wire, and at the same time produce a self-threading needle, thus enabling persons to readily and quickly thread the needle without the tedious method necessary in finding the eye of an ordinary needle. To thread my needle, it is only necessary that the thread be laid across the needle above the end at and drawn down- Ward, when it will travel around the spiral thereof until it reaches the eye I). This threading operation is quickly performed.

While I intend and have especially adapted my needlefor use as aself-threading sewing-machine needle, it will be readily understood that the needle maybe formed without the self-threading feature, and it will also be readily understood that a hand-sewing needle can be produced of twisted wires in the same manner as heretofore described, and in which event the eye will be formed in the butt of the needle instead of in the point, as here shown, and without departing from the principle involved in my invention.

For the purpose of brevityin the specification and claims it will be understood that the term wire used in both the specification and claims is understood to include a strip of metal whatever may be the cross-sectional form of the strip, for it will be readily understood that the wire may be square or of any desired cross-sectional form without departing from the principle or scope of my invent-ion.

While I here show and describe the two twisted Wires as formed of a single Wire doubled between its ends and also show the two wires of the same diameter or gage, it will be readily understood that the needle may be formed of separate wires and suitably united to form the butt-end and that instead of having the wires of the same gage they may be of different gages, the smallest-gage wire will also be understood that in the event of having one of the stems forming the, twist of small gage it can be accomplished by forming it from a single strand of wire, reducing one portion of the strand to constitute the small wire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A needle composed of two twisted wires having a circular body or stem portion provided with a smooth outer surface, areduced end to form a point, the opposite unreduoed ends constituting the butt, and the needle provided with an eye, substantially as de scribed.

2. A self-threading needle consisting of two twisted wires, oneend reduced to form a point and provided with an eye, one of the said wires having a free upper end to form a thread-entrance between the said twisted wires, substantially as described.

3. A needle consisting of a plurality of wires, the wires extending parallel to each other to constitute the head or butt of the needle and twisted to form the main or body portion of the needle, the opposite end of the wires reduced to form a point, and the needle provided with an eye, substantially as described.

4. A self-threading needle consisting of a plurality of wires twisted together to constitute the stem or body portion of the needle, the opposite ends of the wires tightly twisted together as compared with the twist of the main or body portion and reduced to form a point, having an eye adjacent the point, and one of the wires having a free upper end to form a thread-passage leading between the saidtwisted wires to the said eye, substantially as described.

5. A self-threading needle consisting of a plurality of wires, the wires having longitudinally extending portions at one end constituting the head or butt of the needle, twisted together to constitute the stem or body portion of the needle, the opposite ends of the wires tightly twisted together as compared with the twist of the main or body portion and reduced to form a point, the needle having an eye adjacent the point, and one of the wires having a free upper end to form a thread passage leading between the said twisted wires, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STEPHEN S. ROSZELL.

Witnesses:

A. S. PATTISON, GEO. E. FREOH.

IIO 

